Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex worth the $650 annual fee?

Editor’s note: This is a periodic article, regularly updated with new information.

When the annual fee on a credit card increases by $200, many people will consider whether they think the new fee is worth it.

That’s definitely the case for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card – premium card in Marriott credit card family. Together with a Announcement of some new and enhanced benefits on September 22, we also saw the annual fee jump from the already expensive $450 to the eye-catching $650 (see rates and fees).

The truth is, branded hotel card usually not the best for Maximize your spending in addition to making purchases with a certain hotel chain. But when the credit card offers a premium free night bonus each year and elite status can upgrade suites and free breakfast, people take notice.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card proved that it is possible to get considerable value from at least one premium hotel card by offering generous perks like automatic top elite status and weekend bonus nights. After all these changes, let’s see if the same holds true for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Information about the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

With Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amexyou can earn a welcome bonus of 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your new card to make $5,000 in qualifying purchases within the first three months of your card membership. TPG . Value Marriott is at just 0.84 cents per person, which means the bonus is worth $1,260.

Some of the best uses of Marriott Bonvoy points include free nights at hotels like The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos, The resort of St. Regis Bora Bora, West Hollywood Version and the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane. Those who enjoy time on the powder may love the ski-adjacent options at The resort of St. Regis Aspen, Valley of Deer St. Regis or The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor of Gulch.

Marriott recently deleted its award charts backs a dynamic pricing system but keeps 97% of hotels in their previous low-to-peak price range through the end of 2022 – which means knowing in advance how many points you’ll need for a hotel can sometimes be confusing.

Related: Marriott’s dynamic award pricing in action – here’s what it means for travelers

Remember that American Express has restrictions will limit your ability to receive bonuses for new members if you already have Marriott products from Chase. Fortunately, yes a pop-up that will let you know if you’re not eligible for rewards when you sign up before Amex runs your credit – and Our charts can also help clarify things.

In case you need some inspiration for what might help youthis may include luxury St. Regis New York and Valley of Deer St. Regis United States, The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos for a Caribbean getaway, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto in Japan or the idyllic wooden houses on the water at St. Regis Bora Bora or The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari . Islands.

That said, due to the dynamic price mentioned earlier, you’ll want to do calendar search for flexible dates to find nights costing 85,000 points or less.

Related: 9 places to maximize the new 85,000-point Marriott award night certificate

The annual free night award has increased significantly in value, but it’s also worth noting that you can only use this award for a single night stay. This can be a challenge if you plan on staying two nights or longer. If you maximize this awards night and stay at a property that costs 85,000 points, you have three options that could not be more ideal for the following nights:

• Pay out 85,000 points from your Marriott balance.
• Pay the fee in cash (which can be quite high).
• Move to another hotel.

For this reason, people have different opinions on the value of a free night award worth a single night at a luxury hotel.

See more: 5 reasons we prefer hotel points over free night certificates and Why do I agree to earn free night rewards instead of points with this card offer

Previously, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex cardholders had an easy-to-use annual credit of up to $300 to use toward spending at Marriott affiliated properties. On September 22, this changed to a monthly dining credit. While the maximum value per year ($300) remains the same, credits are now offered up to $25 per month.

This means that the credits are now more complicated to use, as you need to remember to use them monthly rather than simply paying for hotel stays associated with the hotel program. linked to a credit card at any time of the year.

That said, everyone spends at least $25 a month at restaurants, so as long as you remember to use the credits each month, this can help offset almost half the fee. annual $650 of the card (see rates and fees).

Cards now offer automatic Marriott Platinum Elite status (previously only Gold). In terms of Marriott status level, this is the level where valuable perks begin to kick in.

Platinum Elite members are eligible for late check-out and early check-in, when room is available, plus room upgrades based on availability on arrival – including upgrade to suite eligibility. At the Platinum level, you also have access to a welcome gift upon check-in and complimentary breakfast at select hotels.

Related: Your Complete Guide to Marriott Elite Breakfast Benefits

For comparison, TPG evaluates Platinum Elite status $1,600 more per year than the Gold Elite status previously offered on the card.

Additionally, cardholders receive 25 credits for an elite night in their Marriott Bonvoy account each year (previously 15 credits). This happens automatically for cardholders and can speed your path to status with Marriott. In fact, some customers wake up with a higher elite status when this change is implemented on members’ accounts.

Note that you can only earn one set of preferential night credits from your personal Marriott card, no matter how many you have. However, this benefit maybe husband with 15 elite night credits gift to a Marriott cardholder business card – like Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. This allows you to start each year with 40 preferred night credits already in your account.

You will need 50 preferential night credits in a calendar year to qualify for Platinum Elite status and gain access to Choice benefits, which could be credits for more elite nights or suite upgrade requests, among other options. These 40 elite nighttime credits also put you more than half way to Titanium Elite status.

It should be clarified that the cardholder of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex automatically get Platinum Elite status, but cardholders still only start the year with 25 elite night credits from this card. You will need another 25 credit night credits to qualify for the 50 Nights Choice Benefit option, and you will need another 50 loyalty night credits to achieve Titanium Premium status. Despite having Platinum Elite status, cardholders won’t start with 50 nights in their account per year.

For simplicity’s sake, it’s easy to think of this as “Plain Platinum Status” – you get the benefits of staying at a hotel, but you don’t have the stay credits associated with it until you actually earn them.

If you don’t reach the 50-night threshold for the annual Choice Benefit through staying at Marriott properties, you can enjoy the same privilege through credit card spending at the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex. After spending $60,000 on the card within one calendar year, cardholders can choose from one of the following options:

• Five Suite Night Awards.
• 85,000 points free night bonus.
• $750 off mattress or box springs from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques.

Related: These are the best Marriott credit cards

Other integrated perks of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card include Priority card Choose a membergrants you and two guests unlimited access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, as well as up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit. The Preferred Card membership isn’t a huge add-on if you’re already getting benefits through other cards. However, if you already have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck because you get it for free with another credit card, you can use this credit to cover the subscription fees of a friend or family member. Registration is required for select benefits.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex’s earnings structure is similar to other Marriott cards, but with two additional bonus categories: dining and airfare. Cardholders earn 6 points per dollar on qualifying purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines airline and 2 points per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Based Valuation of TPG, that’s basically a 5.04% return on Marriott purchases, 2.52% on restaurants and flights, and 1.68% on daily spending. Those rates aren’t terrible but not bad for a cobranded card either.

Related: Earn reward Marriott points for your Uber rides and food delivery orders

While it may not be the best card for everyday spending, there’s a lot of value to be had in it Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card if you regularly stay in Marriott properties and put value on the elite perks offered by the card. In fact, that might be unquestionable for the show’s most loyal guests.

However, those privileges come at a cost. The annual fee has increased by $200, one of the key benefits on the card that has become more complicated to use and status not providing access to the annual Choice Benefits for those who value them.

Depending on the value you place on the updated benefits, you may love more valuable status, dining credits and free night prizes. You may also think the annual fee is too much because you don’t see yourself maximizing the refreshed benefits.

Official app link: Marriott Bonvoy’s American Express Brilliant Card with 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in qualifying purchases within the first three months of your card membership.

For Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex prices and fees, click here.

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Summer Hull, Jennifer Yellin and Benji Stawski.